Like you, the final panel. Also, (much white fonting): Virginia being the source of the bad weather? And whoever is watching (first page) saying that the bad weather could destroy the world? And who is that, the watcher? Same as the head that's on the moon in Strange's vision? Raised a lot more questions than it answered.

I did like the interaction between Natasha and DD, and the framing of the panels on the bard while the action occurs off-screen.

The plot with James and the Grand Inquisitor seems to have taken a back seat, but maybe it's layers on layers.

Read 1603. And my first thought was "I can't remember my history very well -- was Queen Elizabeth really killed by Count Otto von Doom ???"

So very perplexed still by Virginia Dare.

Oh, and "Master John" Grey? So totally a woman. Or were we all thinking that all along? (Note: that isn't a spoiler for future issues -- as far as I know -- nor is it anything that was revealed in this issue.)

I'm pretty sure John's a Jean.

Something I want to know is what's up with Clea? If this story is supposed to be something hinky actually happening to the Marvel Universe timeline... well, Clea was only partially human, born and raised in another dimension, and so far as I know currently lives there. I think it'd take a lot more doing to retcon an earth-based 17th century origin for her.

Then again, there has been speculation that she could be a lot older than she appears, so there's an outside chance that she somehow made the transition over from the Dark Dimension 400 years early.

Maybe whatever caused the X-Men and the other heroes to appear 400 years early also pulled her in early?

Huh. (speculation) Maybe that "whatever" is Virginia Dare. She's one of the 3 (now 2) actual historial characters in 1602, but she's been written with all the shapechanging mystical powers. And she's the cause of the weather problems. So maybe her birth is what kicked off the Marvel Universe? Or, the settlement of America is what did it (which in a way is true; it's America what gave the world comic book heroes.)

But the cover of issue 2 makes more sense now.

(spoiler font): And whoever is watching (first page) saying that the bad weather could destroy the world? And who is that, the watcher?

Pretty much has to be the Watcher. One of Marvel's standard story framing devices has been the Watcher introducing the tale as a narrator. And he does live on the moon.

Virginia Dare can change into other creatures of the north, too, although the list doesn't seem to exactly match Snowbird's.

Concurring that John is a Jean.

I think that the first two panels that have the Watcher's narration, that talks about particles forming and disappearing in nanoseconds, with effects on the time and space. I'm guessing that will somehow bring this timeline and the "normal" Marvel timeline in synch.

Does anybody know off-hand how Elizabeth I died in real-life, or is some research in order. I have a feeling that her death as depicted here is probably not that far different than how she is reported to have died in real-life (excepting the Doom part, of course).

On a Doom-related note, why is he being called Otto Von Doom in this book? Isn't his name Victor, or am I missing something from early Marvel history?

On a Doom-related note, why is he being called Otto Von Doom in this book? Isn't his name Victor, or am I missing something from early Marvel history?

Probably the same as using Javier for Xavier, just to mix things up a little.

Or John for Jean... :)

I know QEI died in 1603, on March 24 (the day after my birthday, although not the year. No undead here, nosiree). I've been googling to find out how, but no luck.

I think that the first two panels that have the Watcher's narration, that talks about particles forming and disappearing in nanoseconds, with effects on the time and space. I'm guessing that will somehow bring this timeline and the "normal" Marvel timeline in synch.

I was thinking the same thing.